Written Answers

Thursday 9 November 2000

Scottish Executive

Central Heating

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology was used in the calculation of the average £550 estimated savings that elderly people are expected to make under the Scottish Executive central heating scheme announced by the Minister for Communities on 19 September 2000.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The figure quoted was based on an analysis of data from the 1996 Scottish House Condition Survey, using the National Energy Rating Scheme modelling programme, Autoevaluator, uprated to 1999 prices. The model used a standard heating regime for elderly households which assumes that their homes will be heated for 16 hours daily; the living room to a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius and the rest of the house to 18 degrees.

  The estimated savings arose from the installation of (a) central heating in all private sector elderly households without central heating where the heating fuel is either gas or electricity, and (b) home insulation.

Central Heating

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology was used in the calculation of the statistic that 90% of those who will benefit under the Scottish Executive central heating scheme announced by the Minister for Communities on 19 September 2000 will be lifted out of fuel poverty.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The figure was an estimate based on information derived from the Scottish House Condition Survey 1996 and relates to the beneficiaries of the scheme who are currently fuel poor.

Central Heating

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding will be available under its central heating initiative for the replacement of existing obsolete or expensive heating systems.

Jackie Baillie: The initiative is intended to help those most vulnerable to cold and damp: an estimated 140,000 households who currently lack any form of central heating. Local authorities should continue to replace obsolescent systems as part of their ongoing housing capital improvement programmes. Housing Associations should also continue their replacement programmes. The Housing Bill will set out the Executive’s proposals to reform the improvement grant system to allow local authorities to give assistance at rates up to 100% for the installation or replacement of heating systems for low income households in the private sector.

Culture

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Sport and Culture next proposes to meet representatives of the Scottish Arts Council and what issues are likely to be discussed.

Allan Wilson: I plan to meet representatives of the organisations which come within my portfolio, including the Scottish Arts Council, in the near future and will discuss with them a wide range of current issues.

Culture

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for six of the trustees of the National Library of Scotland to be appointed by the Faculty of Advocates and what the reasons are for its position on this issue.

Allan Wilson: The National Library of Scotland Act 1925 provides for the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates to be an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, and for five other members to be appointed by the Faculty. The statutory provision reflects the National Library’s origins in the Advocates’ Library. In due course we will undertake the review of current library legislation announced in the National Cultural Strategy and seek a legislative opportunity to make any appropriate changes.

Culture

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many paintings owned by the national collections in Scotland are (a) on display in public galleries, (b) on loan to government departments, (c) on loan elsewhere, (d) in store and (e) not in any of the above categories.

Allan Wilson: The information is set out in the following table. The figures are drawn from the catalogue of the permanent collections of the National Galleries of Scotland and include paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, miniatures and some sculpture including medals, medallions and other items. Many of the items classified as "in store" are kept unframed but can be viewed by members of the public by appointment. Others are regularly transferred between store and display.

  


Category


Total Number




On display in public galleries


4,948




On loan to government departments


151




On loan elsewhere


14




In store


45,196




None of the above


48




Total


50,357




  Further information on the collections can be obtained from the Registrar of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Drug Misuse

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been advised by Her Majesty’s Government’s drugs tsar that cannabis is alleged to be 50 times more carcinogenic than tobacco and, if so, whether it accepts this information as scientifically accurate.

Iain Gray: The Executive has received no such advice from Keith Hellawell, the United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator ("drugs tsar").

Drug Misuse

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take in response to the call by the RAC Foundation for Motoring Ltd for a high profile television campaign warning of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs.

Sarah Boyack: The GB road safety strategy, Tomorrow’s Roads – Safer for Everyone , published on 1 March, confirms that there is a need for targeted public information advertising to highlight the risks of driving under the influence of drugs. For publicity campaigns to be effective, they need to be targeted specifically at the groups most at risk and to be based on an understanding of the precise nature and extent of the problem. A generalised high profile television campaign would not necessarily reach the right people.

  The Scottish Executive has commissioned research on the prevalence of recreational drug use and driving in Scotland. Other research is also being carried out by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The results of all this research will inform the targeting and content of a publicity campaign.

Economic Development

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive intends to take forward economic development at a local level.

Henry McLeish: My colleague Wendy Alexander proposes to publish draft guidelines on Local Economic Forums at the end of this month. The guidelines will set out the role and tasks of forums in improving the delivery of local economic development services across Scotland. In addition she will publish the Executive’s formal response to the report by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee on local economic development.

Education

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to harmonising Scottish school holidays.

Mr Jack McConnell: Following representations received about different dates set in different areas, officials wrote to authorities in February to ask how holidays were currently co-ordinated between authorities and what could be done to improve liaison in the future. In response, most authorities indicated that they held discussions with their neighbours with a view to securing a consistent approach although complete consistency could not always be achieved because of local circumstances and local holidays. I am considering the detailed responses further.

Employment

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of recent announcements of up to 250 job losses at Fullarton Computer Industries, 78 job losses at GE Caledonian and the transfer of 30 jobs from Troon to Belfast by Sea Containers, what action it plans to take to stem job losses in Ayr constituency.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) support for all those made redundant will be provided by the local agencies in accordance with the principles set out in the Scottish Executive’s PACE framework.

  Fullarton Computer Industries have advised that no redundancies will take place until the New Year.

  G E Caledonian remain committed to Prestwick.

  Sea Containers confirm there were no overall job losses associated with the relocation of Seacat’s operating base from Stranraer to Troon in July this year. Similarly, none are planned as part of the relocation of the company’s operational base to Belfast, which is a commercial decision by Seacat.

  Looking to the future, the Scottish Executive is actively involved in the Ayrshire Economic Forum to promote economic regeneration in all of Ayrshire. The forum launched its "Ayrshire Strategy for Jobs" in March 1999 to attract more jobs to Ayrshire and to promote growth by indigenous companies.

Gulf War Veterans

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHSiS has received from the Ministry of Defence any guidance, information or advice regarding Her Majesty’s Government’s response to the House of Commons Committee report on gulf veterans’ illnesses.

Susan Deacon: The Ministry of Defence has produced an information pack for health professionals dealing with patients who are Gulf veterans. It has also made available helpline numbers for the Gulf Veterans’ Illnesses Unit in the MoD and the Gulf Veterans’ Medical Assessment Programme. The attention of the NHS in Scotland was drawn to the availability of this information in July 1998.

Health

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust regarding the retention of paediatric services at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin and other hospitals serving rural communities.

Susan Deacon: The planning and provision of paediatric services are matters for health boards and NHS Trusts. I understand from Grampian Health Board and Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust that there is no intention to withdraw the paediatric service provided to the people of Moray.

Health

Mike Watson (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that adequate health care is provided for rough sleepers.

Susan Deacon: Four million pounds has been allocated this year to health boards to support existing rough sleeping initiatives in Scotland. Guidance to health bodies on the needs of homeless people, including rough sleepers, will be issued shortly and a national health and homelessness co-ordinator will be appointed later this year to spearhead further improvements in health care for this vulnerable group.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10242 by Susan Deacon on 18 October 2000, what steps it is taking to collate data on the number of branded prescriptions dispensed where a generic equivalent exists.

Susan Deacon: Data is regularly made available to health boards and Primary Care Trusts to identify recurring potential savings which might be achieved by further generic prescribing by practitioners in their area.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that generic medicines are dispensed when off-patent branded prescriptions are made out.

Susan Deacon: None. Automatic generic substitution would not always be clinically appropriate.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the proportion of generic rather than branded medicines which are prescribed and dispensed.

Susan Deacon: GPs have for some time been encouraged to prescribe generically, unless there are good clinical reasons for proprietary products to be prescribed. Increasing use of local formularies and GP computing systems; the development of practice-based prescribing protocols, and enhanced pharmacist input into prescribing review and audit have resulted in excellent progress having been achieved in this area and the current rate of generic prescribing is now over 70%. The remaining identified potential savings from greater generic prescribing are comparatively low at approximately £2 million (0.3% of the overall cost of prescribing in Scotland).

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was budgeted to be spent in 1999-2000 under (a) the empty homes initiative and (b) the rough sleeper initiative; what the actual outturn was for each initiative; whether any under-expenditure was carried over into 2000-01 or subsequent financial years, and what the current projection is for expenditure under each initiative in the current and coming financial years.

Jackie Baillie: In 1999-2000, £6.7 million was budgeted to be spent by local authorities on the Empty Homes Initiative, which included £1.3 million of underspend carried over from the previous year. The actual outturn spend in 1999-2000 was £3.8 million. The underspend of £2.9 million has been carried forward into 2000-01 where budgeted spend is £7.9 million. In 2001-02 budgeted spend is £5 million.

  In 1999-2000, £10.7 million was budgeted to be spent by local authorities on the Rough Sleepers Initiative, which included £3.18 million underspend carried over from the previous year. The actual outturn spend in 1999-2000 was £5.6 million. The underspend of £5.1 million has been carried into 2000-01 where the budgeted spend is £15.1 million. In 2001-02 budgeted spend is £10 million.

Housing

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage the development of flexible tenure schemes on the model of the buy back scheme used by Weslo Housing Management.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support legislative and administrative changes designed to facilitate the use of buy back flexible tenure schemes by housing associations and other registered social landlords.

Jackie Baillie: Mortgage rescue provides support to home owners in mortgage difficulties and can help families to remain in their homes and avoid the negative effects of repossession. We are aware of a number of mortgage rescue schemes operating in Scotland with support from some of the major lenders. By building on their experience, we are keen to look for ways to extend the availability of such support throughout Scotland and I hope to announce more details in the coming months.

Lingerbay Quarry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report from the Reporter on the Lingerbay Inquiry was received by the Scottish Office on 29 April 1999; on what date it assumed responsibility for determining the planning application originally submitted on 25 March 1991, and what action was taken at that time.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The planning application was submitted to the Western Isles Island Council on 25 March 1991. On 27 September 1991 the then Secretary of State issued a Direction requiring the council to notify him should the council be minded to grant planning permission. On 24 June 1993, the council informed the Secretary of State that they were minded to grant planning permission. A Direction was issued on 6 January 1994 calling in the application for the Secretary of State’s determination.

  A public local inquiry was held between 1 October 1994 and 6 June 1995. The Reporter submitted her report to the Secretary of State on 29 April 1999. The Scottish Executive assumed responsibility determining the application on 1 July 1999 and has since been considering the Reporter’s report.

Lingerbay Quarry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a time period of 1 July 1999 to the present for making a decision in respect of the Lingerbay Inquiry report is normal in such applications and what response it has given or intends to give to the local communities affected in relation to the delay in making a decision.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive aims to issue decisions within three months of a report of a public local inquiry being received. The Lingerbay case, however, is exceptional in that it raises a number of very technical and complex issues which require extremely careful consideration. Whilst any delay in dealing with this case is regretted, I am sure that local communities and others would wish to ensure that all relevant matters have been thoroughly examined before a decision is reached.

Planning

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce by legislation or other means a requirement which sets a time period within which it must reach a decision following receipt of a report by its Inquiry Reporters.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive aims to issue decisions within three months of a report of a public local inquiry being received. There are no plans to make this a legal requirement.

Planning

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the target date for reaching a decision on the planning applications regarding the Ayr United Stadium is 2 November 2000 and, if so, whether it will give an assurance that this target date will be met.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive’s target is that all public local inquiry cases should be dealt with within three months of receiving the Reporter’s report. The target date for these applications was 3 November. The decisions issued on that date.

Police

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to reconsider or review the Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have no plans to reconsider or review the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 as a whole, although parts of the Act, such as common police services, as part of the Review of Police and Fire Structures, have been under review or may be subject to review in the course of policy development.

Rail Freight

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Scottish Enterprise and local enterprise companies regarding the use of rail freight.

Ms Wendy Alexander: None. The development of rail freight is the responsibility of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority which has at its disposal considerable resources to assist and encourage the continued growth of rail freight. The Executive is also committed to transferring freight from road to rail and water borne modes of transport. We recently announced a doubling of expenditure on Freight Facility Grants to £36 million up to March 2004. The scheme’s target for removing lorry miles from Scottish roads was also increased from 15 to 18 million per annum.

  As part of its existing support for the Scottish business community, SEn assists its customers in accessing relevant Government programmes, including the Freight Facility Grants scheme.

Rail Network

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Railtrack or any other body about facilitating disabled access from the south-bound platform at Lockerbie station.

Sarah Boyack: Legislation on disability discrimination is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack and the train operating companies on improving access to rail services in Scotland. I understand that Railtrack is working closely with Dumfries and Galloway Council on securing disabled access at Lockerbie station.

Rail Services

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that Great North Eastern Rail services north of Edinburgh are restored.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in daily contact with GNER about the suspension of its services north of Edinburgh. GNER wrote on 8 November to all MSPs concerned about disruption of services to Aberdeen in order to advise them of its plans for restoring a normal timetable from 13 November.

Residential Care

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address present financial difficulties being experienced by the Relatives Association so that it can continue to support the relatives of those within continuing care establishments.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive recognises that the Relatives Association has the potential to play a valuable role in supporting the friends and relatives of people moving into and residing in continuing care establishments. I have asked my officials to meet members of the association in Scotland to discuss how they might take this forward.

Roads

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the Route Action Plan for the A75.

Sarah Boyack: I have no plans to review the output of the A75 Route Action Plan.

Rural Affairs

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that rural communities benefit from the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund.

Rhona Brankin: Around £2 million is available under the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) for 2001-02.

  The opening of applications against the 2001-02 rounds of the Rural Challenge Fund (RCF) and Local Capital Grants Scheme elements of the SRPF was announced in a news release on 10 October. In addition, on 25 September the Executive distributed a flyer to some 2,500 local bodies and previous applicants to the RCF, giving advance information on the RCF round for 2001-02. The LCGS is also publicised by local authorities, who administer the scheme at the local level.

  The closing date for applications to the Rural Challenge Fund is 24 November 2000. Those wishing to apply to the Local Capital Grants Scheme should contact their local authority direct.

  An announcement will be made regarding the Rural Strategic Support Fund – the third element of the SRPF - in the near future.

Sexual Offences

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it proposes to publish proposals to prevent an accused person charged with a sex offence from cross-examining a victim personally and to strengthen the provisions restricting cross-examination on sexual history.

Mr Jim Wallace: The consultation document Redressing the Balance: Cross-Examination in Rape and Sexual Offence Trials is being published today. A copy is being placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre and additional copies will be made available in the Document Supply Centre.

Smoking

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of the targets outlined in Towards a Healthier Scotland , what strategy is in place to achieve a reduction in smoking among young people.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is taking forward a range of measures to reduce levels of smoking among young people. These include health education and promotion activities such as mass media advertising and Smokeline; a new enforcement package to target underage sales of tobacco and targeted smoking cessation services. A proportion of the additional funding being made available under the £26 million health promotion fund announced on 20 August will also be used for a major drive to cut young people’s smoking.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the British Tourist Authority concerning the promotion of Scotland overseas.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: I meet regularly with officials of the BTA. Officials of the Scottish Tourist Board work closely with their colleagues in the BTA when planning the marketing of Scotland overseas.

Tourism

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address any problems currently affecting the tourism industry in Scotland.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: These are being addressed by the actions contained in the New Strategy for Scottish Tourism . The industry will also benefit from changes to the structure and linkages of the Scottish Tourist Board, arising from the recent independent review of that body.

Transport

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on climate change emissions, traffic levels and air quality of the extra spending on transport announced by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 28 September 2000.

Sarah Boyack: A research project is currently underway to identify an appropriate methodology to forecast future traffic levels in Scotland and produce interim traffic and emission forecasts for local air pollutants and carbon dioxide where possible. The current stage of this work should be completed by the end of the year.

  Measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transport will be an important element of the Scottish Climate Change Programme that the Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture will announce shortly.

Voluntary Organisations

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the First Minister what progress has been made on the levying of a fee on voluntary organisations for Scottish Criminal Records Office checks.

Henry McLeish: Jim Wallace set up a Voluntary Issues Review Group last year to examine the possible impact of the introduction of criminal record checks under Part V of the Police Act 1997 on voluntary organisations. The group, which is chaired by Jackie Baillie, has made good progress and it is hoped that it will report its conclusions by the end of the calendar year.

Water Charges

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when a scheme will be introduced to help low income families pay their water charges.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Water charges are currently linked to council tax bands; this provides significant protection for a large number of low-income households. Despite this, the Executive recognises that recent increases in charges may have presented some households with difficulties; accordingly we are looking at ways of improving on this existing protection.

Youth Hostels

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the use of youth hostels during off-peak periods by education authorities and other such bodies, whether any funding is available for this purpose and, if so, which organisations have access to such funding.

Mr Jack McConnell: It is for education authorities and other public bodies to decide whether they use youth hostels during off-peak hours. There is no central government funding specifically for this purpose.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what the meaning is of "identical characteristics" in the part of the specification for the granite cladding of the MSP block of the new Parliament building which states "Granite: Kemnay (Aberdeen) or Creetown (Galloway). Alternatives providing identical characteristics may be considered".

Sir David Steel: The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me that,   in the context of the specification for granite cladding, "identical characteristics" means that the "essential nature" of any alternative stone offered must be "the very same", in terms of properties and attributes, as the stone from the Scottish quarries. Under EC procurement rules it would not have been permissible to specify "Scottish granite" which would prevent other EC member states an opportunity to compete, when they may be able to supply suitable alternatives.

Holyrood Project

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the statement by the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that materials "must be demonstrably from sources that respect the human rights of those employed in their production, and do not employ child labour" ( The Herald , 26 September 2000), how it is intended to establish whether materials meet these criteria.

Sir David Steel: I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group (HPG) that the inclusion of the stipulation, quoted from the tender documentation for the MSP block "cladding" package, goes beyond the statutory requirements for contract tendering, under existing EC regulations. The HPG is confident that, together with the assurances from the successful cladding contractor, the stipulation will ensure that the materials are obtained from a responsible and ethical source. Additional checks will be subsequently carried out, the arrangements for which will be determined by the HPG on the basis of the best available professional advice.

Scottish Parliament Staff

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body staff are precluded from purchasing Scottish Parliament Christmas cards and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Sir David Steel: For the purpose of clarification, I can confirm that Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body staff are able to purchase Scottish Parliament Christmas cards. Where these are for personal use, the purchase and postage costs must, of course, be met by the individuals themselves.